Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1887-03-05
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, Feb. %. 1887.

Cabinet succession, the change of In
auguration day, the new President of
the Senate, and the probable extra
session of the Senate are the matters
that have been most talked about
here during the past week.
The President is anxious to avoid
asking the Senate to remain in ses-
sion after the fourth of March, but
when asked whether he would be
ready to submit the important nomi-
nations upon which he desired its &C
ton in time to obviate such necessi-
ty, he replied that it was impossible
for him to tell.
The Interstate Commerce nomina-
tons have given him much perplexi-
ty, and now the question has been
raised as to his Constitutional right
to appoint to newly created Office
which is to be filed by and with the
advice and consent of the Senate,
while the Senate is not in session.
1t is held by certain Senators that the
power by which the President fills
vacancies which have occurred dur
ing vacation cannot be applied to
the filling of a newly made office.
1t seems that Mr.. White, eX-Presi-
dent of Cornell University and eX-
Minister to Berlin, was much annoy
ed that the correspondence between
the President and himself in relation
to his taking place on the Interstate
Commission should have been made
known to the public. He says the
President merely wrote him letter
asking if his name could be consider
ed in making up the Commission. 1t
is understood that Mr.. White would
really have liked to accept the place
but was dissuaded by friends on the
assumption that the Commissioners
will fail to satisfy either the people
or the railroads and that however
able they may be, they must inevita-
bly, incur the charge of incompetency.
On the Republican side of the Sen
ate Chamber there are four men each
of whom would do credit to a dime
museum as the living skeleton. They
are Senators Ingalls,, Sherman, Ma.
hone and Evarts. The longest and
lankest of them all is the gentlem
from Kansas, who hasjust been sworn
in as president of the Senate in the
place of Mr.. Sherman, the next most
attenuated member of the quartette
Mr.. ingalls, is as stiff and studied as
it is possible to imagine, and upon
taking the vice-president's chair he
made characteristic little speech in
honor of the retiring Senator with
which he (Mr. Ingalls) looked vel
pleased. Beginning with a burst O.
modesty he said he must inevitably
suffer disparagement by comparison
with the learning and parliamentary
skill the urbanity and accomplish
ments of his illustrious predecessor
but he would strive to equal him in
devotion to the duty imposed upor
him, ETC., which all of them promise
There was an exciting scene in tn,
House of Representatives on the day
that 1t voted tosustain the President
veto of the Pauper Pension bill. Thu
galleries were crowded to their ut
most capacity with spectators whc
listened eagerly to all that was said
and took part in the demonstration
of approval and disapproval.
f The first fashionable season which
, the mistress of the White House ha
seen in her present position, closed {
, week ago. One feature of it at least
, is worthy of note. OF the innumer
able printed and spoken comment
made respecting her, she herself say
there has not been one hyper-critica
, remark that reached her. On tn
, contrary they have been compliment
2 tary and kindly in the highest degree
When it is remembered that Mrs
t Cleveland, without experience, enter
: ed upon the most difficult social dut,
that woman could attempt, an,
that she is the youngest mistress tina
the Presidential mansion ever had
trusting solely to her own womanl
Q instincts, good breeding and goo
! heart, it is not speaking too strongl
to say that her success has been wor
derful. t